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Finding headphones that stay put can be a seemingly impossible task for people with oddly-shaped ears. In-ear phones slip out no matter what tip you stick on them and ear buds get bounced out of place the second you move your head. Normally, a big comfortable set of over-the-ear cans is a great solution, but they're hardly ideal when it comes to exercise. Creative's solution is a $200 pair of what basically look like earbuds, equipped with flexible metal hooks (made from a material they call Flexnium) to help keep them against your head.

The first thing that you'll notice after you wade through the extremely elaborate packaging is how light they are. When directly comparing them to a set of cheap-o "free with your PMP" earbuds, the Airs actually felt a little lighter in the hand. That goes a long way when it comes to comfort.

Actually putting them on for the first time isn't exactly the easiest task. It takes a couple minutes of bending (of both the hook and your ear) to get them in the sweet spot. Once they're in place, though, the fit is actually excellent. The speakers rest just outside of your canal without putting a lot of stress on the back of the ear that makes you feel like you've been wearing glasses for 18 hours straight.

The press material boasts "Neodymium magnet drivers with ultra-slim high performance diaphragms" for sound production and they do produce a sound that's both clear and surprisingly powerful considering that they don't fill your ear canal and have no kind of noise cancellation. Highs and mids were ample, as long as you have the speaker in exactly the right spot. Bass is acceptable for the form-factor, but if you're listening to a lot of hip hop, you might find yourself wanting something punchier.

The thermoplastic elastomer coating on the cable really did seem to cut down on the amount of rub noise that occurs during exercise, which further improves their position as a solid headphone for the gym.

After seeing the photograph above, the main concern becomes how loud they will be to the people around you. A quick test showed that they did a surprisingly good job of not broadcasting music across a room. From a few feet away, there was a slightly audible sound, but only when the volume is cranked up. You'd never hear it over treadmills or grunting meatheads at the gym.

The final nice touch is the case, which feels incredibly plush and expensive. The brown color might not be ideal for everyone, but the case is a necessity. Throw them in your bag without it and the ear hooks become more like grappling hooks, eager to drag everything out of your bag when you take them out.

Nice touches like gold-plated plug and "high-purity Oxygen-Free Copper cable" make these consumer grade phones a definite upgrade from standard earbuds, but the $200 price point does seem high, especially if your primary concern is sound quality. But, with this form factor, most other options are nothing short of horrible. That price might seem like a bargain to a person who has been running in silence.

Check the official site for more info